Providing spontaneous connection and interaction between local and remote interaction devices

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of methods, systems, and storage medium associated with establishing a persistent connection between local and remote interaction devices are disclosed herein. In one instance, the method may include operating the local interaction device in a first power state when a motion of a local user within an area proximate to the local device is not detected, and operating the local interaction device in a second power state when a motion of the local user within the area is detected. The method may further include providing a selected view of a plurality of views of the local area responsive to a gaze direction of the remote user, and providing audio communication from the local interaction device to the remote interaction device with a spatial characteristic that approximates co-location of the local and remote users. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a national phase entry under 35 C. §371 ofInternational Application No. PCT/US2012/041889, filed Jun. 11, 2012,entitled “PROVIDING SPONTANEOUS CONNECTION AND INTERACTION BETWEEN LOCALAND REMOTE INTERACTION DEVICES”, which designated, among the variousStates, the United States of America. The Specification of thePCT/US2012/041889 Application is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field ofperceptual interaction technologies, and more particularly, totechniques for providing spontaneous connections between users placed indifferent remote locations, and/or facilitating interactions between theusers with reduced perception of separation.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of thepresently named inventors, to the extent it is described in thisbackground section, as well as aspects of the description that may nototherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neitherexpressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the presentdisclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches describedin this section are not prior art to the claims in the presentdisclosure and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in thissection.

Current telecommunication technologies allow users in two or moredifferent locations to communicate by simultaneous two-way video andaudio transmissions. The examples of such communication technologiesinclude videoconferencing, videophone calls,voice-over-Internet-Protocol-based services (such as Skype®) and otherservices.

However, existing communication techniques, such as videoconferencing,cause technical and psychological issues, such as perceived lack ofdirect eye contact, user appearance consciousness, inadequate quality ofservice (e.g., signal latency), and the like. Furthermore, currentsolutions require a prescribed set of steps required by the user inorder to communicate with a remote user. The intentionality required isnot a part of face to face interactions, and thereby creates anexperience that does not feel natural. Accordingly, existingcommunication techniques do not provide users with a perception of beingin close proximity to each other. Thus, spontaneity and ease ofcommunications may be lacking in the user communications provided bycurrently available technologies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitatethis description, like reference numerals designate like structuralelements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by wayof limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an interaction device with a persistentconnection to another device to provide spontaneous connection andinteraction in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process flow diagram for identifying a presence ofa user by a local interaction device in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates another process flow diagram for providingspontaneous connection and interaction between a local interactiondevice and remote interaction device in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an environment in which spontaneous connections andinteractions between interaction devices may be practiced in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates an environment in which various embodiments of aninteraction system may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Techniques described herein provide for establishing a persistent andspatial separation reduction audio and/or visual connection between twoor more remote locations so as to give end users the perception of beingin close proximity to each other. The persistence of the connection maylend itself to users interacting spontaneously and in an un-scheduledfashion, which is analogous to the types of interactions that occur whenpeople are co-located.

Embodiments described herein may be realized in many forms, includingincorporation into typical home fixtures such as window fixtures ormirrors. An interaction device configured to provide a persistentconnection with a remote location may melt seamlessly into the user'senvironment to promote impromptu natural conversation with another userbeing at the remote location. For example, an interaction device may beincorporated in a mirror hanging on a wall at the user's location, suchas user's home. The mirror surface may incorporate a device's displaycomponent. In another example, the interaction device may beincorporated in a picture or a window.

The device's components, such as motion sensors, cameras, interactioncomponents, microphones, and the like that may be employed to enable apersistent connection of the interaction device with other users'interaction devices included in the interaction system described hereinmay be incorporated in a fixture associated with the display component,such as a bezel around a device's display component of the interactiondevice (e.g., a mirror or picture frame), or incorporated into otherparts of the environment (e.g. using existing sound system to provideaudio output from the remote connection). Accordingly, the device'snonintrusive characteristics may enable a user to become comfortable andbehave naturally with other connected users even during moments where noactive conversation is taking place, further deepening the sense ofco-location with the other users.

User communications with the interaction device may include commandsissued by the user, such verbal commands, touch commands, or gesturecommands. The device may detect a user's intent to issue a command basedon a particular position of the user relative to the device. Forexample, a position of the user's head relative to the interactiondevice and/or the user's gaze (e.g., user's face pointed directly at theinteraction device display) may be a detectable indication of the user'sintent to issue a command. Once a command is issued, the device mayidentify the command and respond accordingly. For example, the commandmay include a request to connect with another user. In response, thedevice may provide a persistent connection with another user asdescribed herein.

Maintaining the persistent connection of the interaction device withother users' interaction devices included in the interaction system maybe based on detecting user motion in a local area serviced by aninteraction device, but may not necessarily require the user motion tobe directed towards the device (for example, a user issuing a command).Any user motion may keep the persistent connection (e.g. the device maydetect motions of kids playing in the room in which device is located).In general, users do not have to be intentional to use the interactionsystem. The system may be present and active in a smart manner tofacilitate spontaneous interaction between local and remote users.

When the user is not in the area where the interaction device is locatedor when the user is in the area but not moving, the device may remain in“sleep” mode, e.g., in a low power state. Once the interaction devicedetects a motion associated with the user, the interaction device mayswitch to a regular mode, e.g., a regular power state.

Generally, embodiments of the interaction device may be implemented insuch a way that users may be largely abstracted from issuing commandsvia voice and gestures so as to minimize such interactions, enablingusers to experience other users they wish to connect with.

Aspects of the interaction device functionality (e.g. parallax describedherein in greater detail) and responsiveness (e.g., an ability to pickup ambient noise in the remote location, etc.) may provide an experiencein which users may feel that they are just a room apart, as opposed tobeing geographically dispersed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example interactive device 100 suitablefor facilitating spontaneous connection and interaction in accordancewith some embodiments. The interaction device 100 is not limited to thedevice components described herein; other suitable configurations of thedevice using different components may be used without departing from thespirit of the present disclosure. For ease of understanding, interactiondevice 100 will be described as the local interaction device. Further,remote interaction device 160 may be considered similarly constituted asinteraction device 100.

In an embodiment, the device 100 may include a number of componentscoupled, for example, via a bus 102. The device 100 may include one ormore interaction components 104, each having a processor and a memory.In alternate embodiments, the interaction components 104 may sharememory. The interaction components 104 may be associated with a datastore 106 configured to store various types of data, e.g., dataassociated with a user profile, data associated with other users of thesystem, data related to a detection of user commands, and the like. Thedata store 106 may store computer-executable instructions that may causethe device 100, when executed on the interaction components 104, toperform one or more of the operations described below in reference tothe device's components. In another embodiment, the computer-executableinstructions may be stored on data store 106 or another, e.g., remotedata store and executed, for example, on a server supporting theinteraction device described herein.

The device 100 may include one or more cameras 108. The cameras 108 mayinclude one or more 2D and 3D cameras configured to work in concert toprovide depth and high resolution views into the local environment for aremote user of remote interaction device 160.

The device 100 may further include one or more microphones 112 (e.g. inone embodiment, an array of microphones). The use of array microphonesmay enable capturing of spatially relevant audio as well as the use ofbeam forming techniques to ensure the user “actively” speaking may beheard on the remote side of the connection with a perception of reducedspatial separation.

The device 100 may further include one or more speakers 114. Thespeakers 114 may include high fidelity speakers configured to enablereplication of the audio spatial relationships of remote audio in thelocal environment.

The device 100 may further include one or more motion detectors 116having one or more motion sensors. The motion detectors 116 may beconfigured to detect motion in the local area, such as help identifypresence of a user in the local area. The motion detectors may allow thedevice 100 to remain in a low power state while there is no useractivity detected by the motion detectors 116.

The device 100 may further include a motion tracking module 118. Themotion tracking module 118, working in concert with (e.g., operating)the cameras 118, may be configured to enable a user on the local side ofthe connection to follow the interactions of the person on the otherside of the connection. Furthermore, this module may be configured toperform user face tracking and/or gaze tracking, that is, the ability todetect the perspective that the user is looking into display 120. Asdescribed above, using face or gaze tracking may enable the device 100to detect user intent to issue a command. One skilled in the art willappreciate that there may be alternate approaches in terms of componentsused to track a presence or motion of a person, for example, by usingoff the shelf motion detection/tracking systems, using simple (e.g., lowpower) motion detector, camera and audio, or other permutations of thecomponents listed above.

Using gaze tracking in concert with a camera motor control 122 may alsoenable the device 100 to support parallax. As known, parallax is anapparent change in the direction of an object, caused by a change inobservational position that provides a new line of sight. As applied tothe device 100 providing a persistent connection to a similarinteraction device 160 installed at a remote location, as the local userturns his head to the left, right, up, or down, a camera systemassociated with the interaction device 160 may accordingly adjust itsperspective on the remote user of the interaction device 160. Thisfunctionality may allow the user to gain a more complete view of theremote environment.

The device 100 may further include a voice and gesture recognitionmodule 124 configured to facilitate natural interactions with the device100, such as through voice and gesture commands as briefly describedabove. For example, the voice and gesture recognition module may enablethe user to perform administrative tasks, such as connecting to aspecific person, e.g., a user of the remote device 160, in an intuitivemanner.

The device 100 may further include a networking interface module 126configured to facilitate communications between the device 100, remoteinteraction device 160, and one or more server devices (not shown) thatmay be configured to support an interaction system comprising two ormore interaction devices 100, 160. Communications between the devices100, 160 may occur via a network, such as Internet or any other type ofnetwork (not shown). A more detailed description of an exampleinteraction system including two or more interaction devices 100, 160 isprovided below in reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process flow diagram for operation of aninteraction device 100 described in reference to FIG. 1 in accordancewith an embodiment. The process 200 may begin at block 202, where thedevice may be kept in a low or “sleep” power state. In the low powerstate, the device may be configured to monitor an area in which thedevice is located for any motion. At decision block 204, it may bedetermined whether any motion in the area is detected, e.g., with themotion detector 116. If no motion is detected, the process may return toblock 202. If motion is detected, at decision block 208 it may bedetermined whether the motion is associated with a user. Thisdetermination may be done in a number of different ways. For example,the interaction device, using the motion tracking module 118, maydetermine whether the motion belongs to a human body. This may be doneby tracking a skeleton of a human body using known tracking techniques.In another example, the interaction device may determine, usingmicrophones 112, whether there is a human voice in the area proximate tothe device.

If it is determined that the motion is not associated with a user, theprocess 200 may move back to block 202. If it is determined that themotion is associated with a user, at block 210 the device may switch toa regular power state, which is typically higher than the low or “sleep”power state. At block 212, the device may track any user motion thatoccurs in the area proximate to the device, e.g., using the motiontracking module 118.

At decision block 214, it may be determined whether the user intends toissue any command to device. This determination may be based on a numberof different indicators that may be detected by the interaction device.For example, the device may detect a position of the user's facerelative to the screen of a display of the device. If the user's face ispointed directly at the screen or turned toward the screen, such faceposition may be an indicator that the user intends to issue a command tothe device. In another example, the device may track the user's gaze. Ifthe user looks directly at the screen, this may also serve as anindicator of the user's intent to issue a command to the device. In yetanother example, an air gesture may serve as an indicator of the user'sintent to issue a command. For example, a user may point at the devicefrom a distance in the local area.

If no user intent is detected, the process may move back to block 212.If the user intent to issue command is detected, at block 216 the devicemay initiate a command reception mode. The command reception mode mayinclude changing one or more configurations of the device 100. Forexample, positions of the microphones 112 may be adjusted so as to pointtoward the user in order to be ready to receive a verbal command. Thecameras 108 may be also pointed at the user in order to receive agesture command. The command reception mode may be operated by the voiceand gesture recognition mode 124 configured to receive input from themicrophones 112 and/or from the cameras 108 and process the receivedinput in order to recognize the issued command. In another example, thevoice and gesture recognition mode may be 124 configured to receivetouch commands. For example, the user may interact with a touch-enabledscreen of the device to execute a particular command.

At decision block 218 it may be determined whether a command is issuedby the user. If no command is issued, the device may remain in thecommand reception mode as indicated at block 216 (or remain for apredetermined duration). If a command is issued, the process 200 maymove to “identify and respond to command” routine at block 220. Theroutine 220 may include a process of identification of a command andresponding to the identified command and is described in reference toFIG. 3. After completion of the routine 220 the process 200 may end.

FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram for an “identify and respond tocommand” routine, as referenced in the description of FIG. 2. In anembodiment, the device may recognize multiple voice and gesturecommands. The command profile information that may be used to identifyissued commands (e.g., keywords, types of gestures, and the like) may bepreloaded and stored, for example, at the data store 106. Accordingly,the device may identify a command by comparing an issued command withstored profiles and selecting the matching profile. The device then mayrespond to the identified command accordingly.

The “identify and respond to command” routine illustrated in FIG. 3 isbut an example of the above-described process. While the commandidentification process is described as sequential, other approaches(e.g., identification of commands in parallel) may be employed.Furthermore, the command identification order, a sequence in which theissued command is compared with command profiles may vary. Differentorders of command identification may be used. For example, at any pointin time the system may already be connected to a remote user. As such,Privacy Control, Knock, Message to Draw, Connect or any other commanddescribed below may be performed at any time. Thus, the sequential orderof commands illustrated in FIG. 3 should be considered as purelyillustrative and not limiting the present disclosure. Further, thecommands may not be limited to the commands described by the routine300. Other commands may be added to the command profiles stored inassociation with the device 100 as needed.

The routine 300 may begin at block 304 where it may be determined thatthe received command is to connect with another user. The “connect”command may be issued, e.g., as a voice command, for example, “Connectwith John.” The users' profiles used for connection may be preloaded andutilized by the device. For example, the device may determine the intentto connect from a keyword, such as “connect.” The intent to connect witha particular user, e.g., John Doe, may be determined from the name“John” said by the user. If John's profile is accessible by the deviceas one of the multiple stored user profiles, the device may selectJohn's profile from the stored user profiles and initiate a connectionwith a remote interaction device associated with John's profile. Inanother example, there may be a special gesture command indicating arequest to connect with a particular user. If the command to connectwith another user is issued, at block 308, an additional or replacementpersistent connection with another user, e.g., with a remote interactiondevice associated with another user, may be established.

After the additional/replacement persistent connection with another,e.g., remote user is established, at decision block 310 it may bedetermined whether a “knock” command is issued. A “knock” command may beissued if the remote user is determined to be busy, as may be seen onthe screen of the interaction device. In another example, the remoteuser may employ one of privacy controls described below. In this case,the local user may have a capability to request remote user's attentionusing the “knock” command. The “knock” command may be analogous to aknock at the closed door of another user's house. For example, the“knock” command may be performed by performing a knocking gesture ortapping the screen of the interaction device. If no “knock” command isissued, the routine 300 may return to the beginning If the “knock”command is issued, the device may send a request to another user torespond to the “knock”. For example, on the receiving end, e.g., theremote interaction device associated with another user (e.g., Joe), mayissue a sound reminiscent of a knock at the door so that Joe may hearthat the user requested his attention. The process 300 may then returnto the beginning.

If at block 304 it is determined that the command is not related toconnecting with another user, the routine 300 may move to decision block314, where it may be determined whether the command is related tosetting up a privacy control mode. If such command is determined to havebeen issued, at block 316 a requested privacy level may be set up. Theroutine 300 may then return to the beginning.

There may be different type of privacy control modes. The privacycontrol modes may be thought of as different states of a window in aroom. In an “open window” privacy control mode, another user may see andhear the user, e.g., both audio and video feeds may be transmitted fromthe interaction device associated with the user to a remote interactiondevice associated with another user (e.g., Joe). In a “closed window”privacy control mode, only video feed may be transmitted to the remoteinteraction device and no audio transmission occurs. In a “closed windowshade” privacy control mode, only audio transmission to the remoteinteraction device occurs and no video feed is supplied to the remoteinteraction device.

If the command is not related to privacy control, at decision block 318it may be determined whether the command is requesting a “message todraw.” In one example, a “message to draw” command may be issued afterthe “knock” command if the remote user (Joe) does not respond to the“knock” command. In another example, another user (Joe) associated withthe remote interaction device may simply be absent. In these cases, theuser may want to leave a message for Joe.

The “message to draw” command may be thought of as a fogged window on acold day. To fog the window, one may put one's hands around the mouthand blow on the window. The blown air may create a fog on the window, onwhich one may draw with one's finger, for example. By way of analogy,the “message to draw” command may be issued, for example by mimickingthe “blowing on the window” gesture. Once the “message to draw” commandis identified, e.g., by detecting the “blowing on the window” gesture,at block 320, a touch screen background suitable for a message to drawwith the user's finger may be provided by the device. For example, a“digital fog” environment receptive to the user's touch may be createdon the screen of a display of the interaction device. The user then maydraw or write a message on the screen. The device may then process theinput message and transmit the processed message to the remoteinteraction device, where it may appear on the screen of a display ofthe remote interaction device. The process 300 may then return to thebeginning.

If the command is not related to message to draw, at block 332 it may bedetermined whether the command is related to the background to set up onthe screen of the device. If it is determined that the command is notrelated to a background setup the process 300 may return to thebeginning If the command is determined to be related to setting up abackground, at block 334 the requested background may be set up on thescreen of the device and the process 300 then returns. For example, thebackground may be a picture, a photograph, a painting, or any otherbackground theme that the user may choose. The background may berequested in a number of different ways. For example the user mayrequest a “picture roll” of pre-stored backgrounds and then select onevia voice or gesture (e.g., by pointing at the desired background). Inanother example, the user may issue a voice background command, e.g.,“Show me a Paris picture, please.”

In yet another example, the system may accept requests for foregrounddigital overlays. Thus, if the device is a physical window, and iscurrently being used as a window instead of a portal, the user mayrequest for “snow please”, and the system would create digitalsnowflakes. In general, the system may have augmented realitycapabilities of varying sorts, the above description being but oneexample of the system capability to provide augmented reality.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example environment 400 in which variousembodiments may be practiced in accordance with some embodiments. Theenvironment 400 may include a user 402 in a location 404 interacting,via an interaction device 406, with other users 410 at a remote location408. The users 410 interact with the user 402 via a remote interactiondevice 412. As described above, a persistent connection between thedevices 406 and 412 may be established. In the example environment 400,neither of the devices 406 and 412 is in a privacy control mode.

The area 404 including the user 402 may be shown on the screen of adisplay of the device 412 and the area 408 including the users 410 maybe shown on the screen of the display of the device 406. The devices 406and 410 (or their display with or without other components) may beintegrated as an ambient component of the areas 404 and 408, such asmirrors as illustrated. Thus, when the devices are not turned on, thedevices may serve as mirrors hanging on the walls of the areas 404 and408. Some or all of the device components described in reference to FIG.1 may be integrated in the mirror frames 418 and 420.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example environment 500 suitable for implementingaspects of the interaction system described herein in accordance withvarious embodiments. As will be appreciated, although a Web-basedenvironment is used for purposes of explanation, different environmentsmay be used, as appropriate, to implement various embodiments. Theenvironment 500 includes one or more electronic interaction devices550(A)-550(N), each of devices associated with one or more users 555,595. The device 550 may include any interaction device operable toprovide a persistent connection with another interaction device over anappropriate network 520 and convey information back to the user 555 ofthe device. Examples of such interaction devices were described inreference to FIGS. 1-4. The user devices 550(A)-550(N) may include aprocessor 552 and memory 554 for storing processor-executableinstructions, such as data files 560, operating system 562, and one ormore applications 564, such as applications configured to enable apersistent connection between the devices 550A and 550N, for example.

The devices may further include at least one or both of the followingelements: input/output interface 556 designed to enable peripheralcomponent interaction with the system 500 and communication interface565. In various embodiments, the input/output interface 556 may include,but is not limited to, a display, e.g., a liquid crystal display, atouch screen display, etc., a speaker, a microphone, a still camera, avideo camera, a flashlight (e.g., a light emitting diode flash), andother components described in reference to FIG. 1. For embodimentsincluding a display supporting touch screen features, the system 500 mayinclude a touch screen controller for facilitating control of thedisplay. As discussed above, operating system 562 and/or an application564 may include software components configured, when executed on theprocessor 552, to cause the device 550(A) to perform one or moreoperations enabling a persistent connection with other (remote)interaction devices 550(N) as described in reference to FIGS. 1-4.

The network 520 may include any appropriate network, including anintranet, the Internet, a cellular network, a local area network, or anyother such network or combination thereof. Components used for such asystem can depend at least in part upon the type of network and/orenvironment selected. Protocols and components for communicating viasuch a network are well known and will not be discussed herein indetail. Communication over the network may be enabled by wired orwireless connections, and combinations thereof. In one example, theillustrative environment 500 may be configured to provide thecapabilities described in reference to FIGS. 1-4 using one or moreendpoints, such as local devices 550(A) and remote interaction devices550(N) that may be connected through a network described above. Forexample, content associated with user interactions may be stored on thedevices 550(A) and 550(N) and communicated between the devices 550(A)and 550(N) via a network or direct connection, taking advantage of thecomputing resources associated with the respective endpoints, such as alocal device 550(A) and remote device 550(N).

In another example, the network may include the Internet, and theenvironment may include one or more Web servers (content providerservers) 525 for receiving requests and serving content in responsethereto, although for other networks, an alternative device serving asimilar purpose could be used, as would be apparent to one of ordinaryskill in the art. The illustrative environment 500 may include at leastone application server 505 including, or associated with, one or moreprocessors 530, input devices 540, output devices 542 (e.g.,administrative input/output devices), removable storage 534, andnon-removable storage 535 that may be connected to a communicationinterface 590 and memory 532. As discussed above, in one embodiment, oneor more applications 545 configured to enable persistent connectionbetween interaction devices 550(A), 550(N) may reside on the server 505and may execute on the device 550 or server 505, or partly on the device550 and server 505. Accordingly, the memory 532 may include anapplication module 545.

The handling of all requests and responses, for example, the requestsfor content initiated by the user 595 (e.g., request for the backgroundsetup described in reference to FIG. 3), as well as the delivery ofcontent between the interaction devices 550(A)-550(N) and theapplication server 505, may be handled by one or more content providerWeb servers 525. The content data store 572 may be associated with theserver 525. The data store 572 is operable, through logic associatedtherewith, to receive instructions from the server 525 and obtain,update, or otherwise process data in response thereto.

Each server may include an operating system that provides executableprogram instructions for the general administration and operation ofthat server, and typically may include a computer-readable mediumstoring instructions that, when executed by a processor of the server,allow the server to perform its intended functions. Suitableimplementations for the operating system and general functionality ofthe servers are known or commercially available, and are readilyimplemented by persons having ordinary skill in the art, particularly inlight of the disclosure herein.

The environment 500 may include a variety of data stores and othermemory and storage media as discussed above. These may reside in avariety of locations, such as on a storage medium local to (and/orresident in) one or more of the computers or remote from any or all ofthe computers across the network. Any necessary files for performing thefunctions attributed to the computers, servers, or other network devicesmay be stored locally and/or remotely, as appropriate. The storage mediamay include disk drives, optical storage devices, and solid-statestorage devices, such as random access memory (“RAM”) or read-onlymemory (“ROM”), flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile disk (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,as well as removable media devices, memory cards, flash cards, or anyother medium which may be used to store the desired information andwhich may be accessed by a processor.

The environment 500 may be a distributed interaction environmentutilizing several computer systems and components that areinterconnected via communication links, using one or more computernetworks or direct connections. However, it will be appreciated by thoseof ordinary skill in the art that such a system could operate equallywell in a system having fewer or a greater number of components than areillustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, the depiction of the system 500 in FIG. 5should be taken as being illustrative in nature, and not limited to thescope of the disclosure.

According to various embodiments, the present disclosure describes acomputer-readable storage medium having executable instructions storedthereon that, in response to execution by a computer of a remote userinteraction system, cause the computer to provide a spontaneousconnection from a local interaction device to another remote interactiondevice for a local user of the local interaction device to interact witha remote user of the remote interaction device. The provision includesmaintenance of a persistent connection between the local and remoteinteraction devices, wherein maintenance of the persistent connectionincludes operation of the local interaction device in a first powerstate when a motion of the local user within a local area proximate tothe local interaction device is not detected, and operation of the localinteraction device in a second power state when a motion of the localuser within the local area is detected. The instructions further causethe computer to facilitate the interactions between the local and remoteusers. Facilitation of the interactions includes reduction of perceptionof separation between the local and remote users, and wherein reductionof perception of separation includes provision of a selected one of aplurality of views of the local area responsive to a gaze direction ofthe remote user, and provision of audio communication from the localinteraction device to the remote interaction device with a spatialcharacteristic that approximates co-location of the local and remoteusers.

According to various embodiments, the present disclosure describes aninteraction device comprising a processor and a memory havingprocessor-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed onthe processor, cause the processor to provide spontaneously a connectionfrom a local interaction device to another remote interaction device fora local user of the local interaction device to interact with a remoteuser of the remote interaction device, wherein the provision includesmaintenance of a persistent connection between the local and remoteinteraction devices. Maintenance of the persistent connection includesoperation of the local interaction device in a first power state when amotion of the local user within a local area proximate to the localinteraction device is not detected, and operation of the localinteraction device in a second power state when a motion of the localuser within the local area is detected. The instructions further causethe processor to facilitate the interaction between the local and remoteusers. Facilitation of the interactions includes reduction of perceptionof separation between the local and remote users, and wherein reductionof perception of separation includes provision of a selected one of aplurality of views of the local area responsive to a gaze direction ofthe remote user, and provision of audio communication from the localinteraction device to the remote interaction device with a spatialcharacteristic that approximates co-location of the local and remoteusers.

According to various embodiments, the present disclosure describes acomputer-implemented method for establishing a persistent connectionbetween local and remote interaction devices, comprising providingspontaneously a connection from a local interaction device to anotherremote interaction device for a local user of the local interactiondevice to interact with a remote user of the remote interaction device,the providing including maintaining a persistent connection between thelocal and remote interaction devices. The maintaining the persistentconnection includes operating the local interaction device in a firstpower state when a motion of the local user within a local areaproximate to the local interaction device is not detected, and operatingthe local interaction device in a second power state when a motion ofthe local user within the local area is detected. The method furtherincludes facilitating the interactions between the local and remoteusers. Facilitating includes reducing perception of separation betweenthe local and remote users, wherein the reducing perception ofseparation includes providing a selected one of a plurality of views ofthe local area responsive to a gaze direction of the remote user, andproviding audio communication from the local interaction device to theremote interaction device with a spatial characteristic thatapproximates co-location of the local and remote users.

Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described hereinfor purposes of description, a wide variety of alternate and/orequivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the samepurposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and describedwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thisapplication is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of theembodiments discussed herein, limited only by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. At least one computer-readable storage mediumhaving executable instructions stored thereon that, in response toexecution by a computer of a remote user interaction system, cause thecomputer to: provide a spontaneous connection from a local interactiondevice to another remote interaction device for a local user of thelocal interaction device to interact with a remote user of the remoteinteraction device, wherein the provision includes maintenance of apersistent connection between the local and remote interaction devices,wherein maintenance of the persistent connection includes operation ofthe local interaction device in a first power state when a motion of thelocal user within a local area proximate to the local interaction deviceis not detected, and operation of the local interaction device in asecond power state when a motion of the local user within the local areais detected; and facilitate the interactions between the local andremote users, wherein facilitation of the interactions includesreduction of perception of separation between the local and remoteusers, and wherein reduction of perception of separation includesprovision of a selected one of a plurality of views of the local arearesponsive to a gaze direction of the remote user, and provision ofaudio communication from the local interaction device to the remoteinteraction device with a spatial characteristic that approximatesco-location of the local and remote users.
 2. The computer-readablestorage medium of claim 1, wherein the computer is part of the localinteraction device.
 3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1,wherein the operation of the local interaction device in the first powerstate consumes less power than the operation of the local interactiondevice in the second power state.
 4. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 1, wherein the instructions that cause the interactiondevice to provide spontaneously a connection from a local interactiondevice to another remote interaction device further cause theinteraction device, with the local interaction device, to: detect amotion in an area associated with the local user; determine whether themotion is associated with the local user; if the motion is determined tobe associated with the local user, switch the local interaction devicefrom the first power state to the second power state; track the localuser motion in the user area, the tracking including a determination ofa local user intent to issue a command; and if during tracking the localuser motion an indication of the local user intent to issue a command isdetermined, initiate a command reception mode to receive a local usercommand.
 5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein thelocal user command is selected from at least one of a voice command,touch command, or a gesture command, wherein the indication of the localuser intent to issue a command is determined from at least one of afirst gesture of the local user or a first position of the local user,wherein the determination of the first position of the local userincludes a detection of a position of a face of the local user relativeto a screen of the local interaction device.
 6. The computer-readablestorage medium of claim 5, wherein the executable instructions furthercause the interaction device, with the local interaction device, to:receive the local user command; identify the received local usercommand; and respond to the identified local user command, wherein theidentified local user command includes a request to connect with theremote user.
 7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, whereinthe instructions that cause the interaction device to respond to theidentified local user command further cause the interaction device toestablish a persistent connection from the local interaction device tothe remote interaction device, the connection including a provision ofvideo and audio communications from the local interaction device to theremote interaction device.
 8. The computer-readable storage mediummethod of claim 7, wherein the identified local user command includes arequest to initiate a privacy control mode for the local interactiondevice, wherein the privacy control mode includes at least one of aclosed window mode or a closed shade mode, wherein the closed windowmode includes video communications from the local interaction device tothe remote interaction device, wherein the closed shade mode includesaudio communication from the local interaction device to the remoteinteraction device.
 9. The computer-readable storage medium method ofclaim 4, wherein the identified local user command includes one of: arequest to draw attention of the remote user, a request to draw amessage for the remote user, a request to set up a background on ascreen of the local interaction device, or a request to provide anaugmented reality foreground on the screen of the local interactiondevice.
 10. An interaction device comprising: a processor; and a memoryhaving processor-executable instructions stored thereon that, whenexecuted on the processor, cause the processor to: provide spontaneouslya connection from a local interaction device to another remoteinteraction device for a local user of the local interaction device tointeract with a remote user of the remote interaction device, whereinthe provision includes maintenance of a persistent connection betweenthe local and remote interaction devices, wherein maintenance of thepersistent connection includes operation of the local interaction devicein a first power state when a motion of the local user within a localarea proximate to the local interaction device is not detected, andoperation of the local interaction device in a second power state when amotion of the local user within the local area is detected; andfacilitate the interaction between the local and remote users, whereinfacilitation of the interactions includes reduction of perception ofseparation between the local and remote users, and wherein reduction ofperception of separation includes provision of a selected one of aplurality of views of the local area responsive to a gaze direction ofthe remote user, and provision of audio communication from the localinteraction device to the remote interaction device with a spatialcharacteristic that approximates co-location of the local and remoteusers.
 11. The interaction device of claim 10, wherein the operation ofthe local interaction device in the first power state consumes lesspower than the operation of the local interaction device in the secondpower state.
 12. The interaction device of claim 10, wherein theinstructions that cause the processor to provide spontaneously aconnection from a local interaction device to another remote interactiondevice further cause the processor to: detect a motion in an areaassociated with the local user; determine whether the motion isassociated with the local user; if the motion is determined to beassociated with the local user, switch the local interaction device fromthe first power state to the second power state; track the local usermotion in the user area, the tracking including a determination of alocal user intent to issue a command; and if during tracking the localuser motion an indication of the local user intent to issue a command isdetermined, initiate a command reception mode to receive a local usercommand.
 13. The interaction device of claim 12, wherein the local usercommand is selected from at least one of a voice command, touch command,or a gesture command, wherein the indication of the local user intent toissue a command is determined from at least one of a first gesture ofthe local user or a first position of the local user, wherein thedetermination of the first position of the local user includes adetection of a position of a face of the local user relative to a screenof the local interaction device.
 14. The interaction device of claim 13,wherein the executable instructions further cause the processor to:receive the local user command; identify the received local usercommand; and respond to the identified local user command.
 15. Theinteraction device of claim 14, wherein the identified local usercommand includes a request to connect with the remote user.
 16. Theinteraction device of claim 15, wherein the instructions further causethe processor to establish a persistent connection from the localinteraction device to the remote interaction device, the connectionincluding a provision of video and audio communications from the localinteraction device to the remote interaction device.
 17. The interactiondevice of claim 15, wherein the identified local user command includes arequest to initiate a privacy control mode for the local interactiondevice.
 18. The interaction device of claim 10, wherein the processor isincluded in the local interaction device.
 19. A computer-implementedmethod for establishing a persistent connection between local and remoteinteraction devices, the method comprising: under control of one or moreinteraction devices configured with executable instructions, providingspontaneously a connection from a local interaction device to anotherremote interaction device for a local user of the local interactiondevice to interact with a remote user of the remote interaction device,the providing including maintaining a persistent connection between thelocal and remote interaction devices, wherein the maintaining thepersistent connection includes operating the local interaction device ina first power state when a motion of the local user within a local areaproximate to the local interaction device is not detected, and operatingthe local interaction device in a second power state when a motion ofthe local user within the local area is detected; and facilitating theinteractions between the local and remote users, the facilitatingincluding reducing perception of separation between the local and remoteusers, wherein the reducing perception of separation includes providinga selected one of a plurality of views of the local area responsive to agaze direction of the remote user, and providing audio communicationfrom the local interaction device to the remote interaction device witha spatial characteristic that approximates co-location of the local andremote users.
 20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, whereinthe operation of the local interaction device in the first power stateconsumes less power than the operation of the local interaction devicein the second power state.
 21. The computer-implemented method of claim19, wherein the spatial characteristic that approximates co-location ofthe local and remote users provides replication of the audio spatialrelationships between the local user and the local interaction device.22. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the providingspontaneously a connection from a local interaction device to anotherremote interaction device includes: detecting a motion in an areaassociated with the local user; determining whether the motion isassociated with the local user; if the motion is determined to beassociated with the local user, switching the local interaction devicefrom the first power state to the second power state; tracking the localuser motion in the user area, the tracking including determining a localuser intent to issue a command; and if during tracking the local usermotion an indication of the local user intent to issue a command isdetermined, initiating a command reception mode to receive a local usercommand.
 23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein thelocal user command is selected from at least one of a voice command or agesture command.
 23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22,wherein the determining a local user intent to issue a command is basedon identifying at least one of a first gesture of the local user or afirst position of the local user.
 24. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 23, wherein the identifying the first position of the local userincludes detecting a position of a face of the local user relative to ascreen of the local interaction device.
 25. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 22, wherein the one or more interaction devices is thelocal interaction device.